Peanut digger



P. 1. FANT. PEANUT BIGGER.

, APPLICATION FILED AUG.25.1920.

2 SHETSSHEET I.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK J. FANT, OF HUGO, OKLAHOMA.

PEANUT DIGG'ER.

Application filed August 25, 1920. Serial No. 4%,833.

Y '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. FANT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hugo, in the county of Choctaw and State of Oklahoma, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Peanut Diggers, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements inpeanut diggers, and itis an object of the invention to provide a device of this generalcharacter with a novel and improved topping mechanism operating in amanner to readily and effectively sever the growing vines.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved peanutdigger whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

:The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

" In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to de scribe the same with reference to the accom 'panyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in top plan, with por tions broken away, of thepeanut digger con structed in accordance with an embodiment of myinvention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through thedevice as herein set forth.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in elevation and partlyin section illustrating a connect-ion between one of the side members ofthe conveyor mechanism and the coacting link.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a supporting axleand mounted upon the opposite extremities thereof are the tractionwheels 2 and the axle 1 is ada ted to rotate upon the forward advance oftie machine. Suitably engaged with the opposite end portions of the axle1 but inwardly of the wheels 2 are the standing posts or standards 3tied or connected at their upper end portions by the transverselydisposed member 4 and suitably mounted upon the member 4.- is the seatstructure S.

Rotatably supported by the posts or standards 3 at a predetermined pointabove the axle 1 1s a transversely disposed shaft 5 provided at one endwith a gear 6 in mesh with a gear 7 mounted on the axle 1. The shaft 5also affords a mounting for the end portions of the substantiallyhorizontally disposed and transversely spaced beams g having theirforward extremities continued by the downwardly directed extensions 9engagec with an axle 10. Pivotally engaged about vertical axes are thespindles 11 upon which are mounted the steering wheels 12. Extendingrearwardly from the spindles 11 are the arms let with which isoperatively cngag'ed'the steering rod 15. Pivotally engaged with the rod15 and the axle 10 is a draft pole or tongue 16. Mounted for verticalswinging movement at a predetermined point intermediate their length arethe trans vcrsely spaced side members or beams 17 which are tied orconnected adjacent their opposite ends by the spacing rods 18.

Suitably engaged with the lower end portions of the sidemeinbers orbeams 17 is the transversely disposed cutter bar 19 with which coactsthe reciprocating sickle 20. tending outwardly from the lower endportion of one of the side members or beams 17 is a bracket 21 withwhich is pivotally cngaged the heel portion of a bell crank lever 13.One of the arms 22 of the lever B is for wardly directed and isoperatively engaged with the end portion of the sickle so that uponrotation the second arm 23 of the lever 13 extends inwardly andtransversely through a suitable opening 24 produced in the lower portionof the adjacent or coacting member or beam 17. Pivotally engaged withthe in ner end portion of the arm 23 is a pitman 25 l'iaving itsopposite end portion engaged with the crank 2(iinterposed in the shaftBy this arrangement it will be perceived that upon rotation of the shaft5' the desired reciprocation of the sickle 20 is obtained. The cutterbar 19 and the coacting sickle 20 serve as a topping mechanism.

The cutter bar 19 is positioned in the desired relation to the surfaceof the ground over which the machine is traveling through the medium ofthe rigid links 27 pivotally engaged with and depending from theforwardly directed rock arms 28 carried by the transversely disposedrock shaft 29 rotatably supported by the means 8. The rigid links 27overlie the side members or beams 17 and are provided with thelongitudinally disposed slots 30 through which are directed theoutstanding threaded shanks 31 disposed through the slots 32 produced inthe side members or beams 17. Coacting with the threaded shanks 31 arethe clamping nuts or the like, holding the same to the links 27.

Immediately adjacent the cutter bar 19 the side members or beams 17rotatably support the transversely disposed roller 34. Directed aroundthe roller 34 is an endless conveyor belt 35 preferably of canvas andwhich belt 35 is also disposed around a transversely disposed roller 36rotatably supported by the upper or rear end portions of the members orbeams 17. The second or upper roller 36 is provided with an extendedshaft 37 to which is suitably secured a sprocket 38. Engaged with thesprocket 38 is a chain 39 also directed around a sprocket 4-0 fixed toan end portion of the shaft 5 whereby it will be perceived that uponforward travel of my improved machine. the upper stretch of the belt 85will travel upwardly and rearwardly. The vines severed by the toppingmechanism carried by the forward end portions of the members or beams 17are received by the upper stretch of the belt 35 and are dis chargedwithin a receptacle or basket supported by the rear portions of themembers or beams 17.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a peanutdigger constructed in accordance with my inven tion is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with i whichit may be assembled and operated, and

it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some changeand modification without departing from the principles and spiritthereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limitingmyself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several partsherein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except ashereinafter claimed.

I claim: r

1. A machine of the character described comprising side members, anendless apron supported by said side members, a shaft serving as asupport for the side members, and operatively engaged with the apron forimparting movement thereto, a reciprocating cutter carried by theextremities of the side members adjacent the receiving end of the apron,and an operative connection between the reciprocating cutter and theshaft for operating the cutter.

2. A machine of the character described comprising side members, anendless apron supported by said side members, a shaft serving as asupport for the side members and operatively engaged with the apron forimparting movement thereto, a reciprocating cutter carried by theextremities of the a side members adjacent the receiving end of theapron, a bell crank lever supported for rocking movement by one of theside members of the conveyor mechanism, one of the arms of the bellcrank lever being operatively connected with the reciprocating cutter,the side member supporting the bell crank lever being provided with anopening through which the second arm of the bell crank lever extends,the shaft between the side members being provided with a crank. and apitman engaged with the crank and with the end portion of the arm of thebell crank lever extending through the opening in the side member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 7 signature.

